Ed’s Letter

H ello and welcome to the latest issue

Bloody Well Write

Send your letters to us at: Prog, Future Publishing, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London, W2 6QA, or email prog@futurenet.com. Letters may be edited for length. We regret that we cannot reply to phone calls and we cannot always respond to individual messages. Find us on facebook.com under Prog.

OPETH ANNOUNCE “CRAZY” CONCEPT ALBUM, THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT

IF IT’S OUT THERE, IT’S IN HERE

BEARDFISH RETURN AFTER EIGHT YEARS

Time has healed the wounds of their split and aided new LP, say invigorated band.

KLONE PROMISE ADREAMY EXPERIENCE ON NEW ALBUM

French art-rockers go into double figures with their 10th LP.

THE VON HERTZENS REACH FOR THE SKY

Trio expand influences on album nine as they reveal adeep love of pop and pomp.

INTRO extras

TIGER MOTH TALES CELEBRATE Tiger Moth Tales’ Cocoon

DEVIN TOWNSEND READIES TRILOGY

PowerNerd finds him retracing his youth and channelling his grief.

SOLO ALBUM FROM BLACK MIDI’S GEORDIE GREEP

Multiple musicians over two continents have been utilsed.

FROST* FORECAST AMBITIOUS MUSIC

Jem Godfrey goes for maximum prog majesty with epic double album.

INTRO extras

STORM CORROSION REISSUE EPONYMOUS ALBUM Storm Corrosion, the

SWALLOW THE SUN SEE THE LIGHT

Amore uplifting sound finds the melancholic Finns renewed and refreshed.

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY SHOW FOR ASHLEY HUTCHINGS

Ahost of special guests have been promised for one-off gig.

FAD GADGETS

Rhodri Marsden on three of the latest must-have gizmos currently putting the prog in progress.

DAVID BLACKWELL

Inspiring the wider music world…

PROG IN BRIEF

Rick Wakeman (right) delves into his past with

EMILY FRANCIS TRIO

The prog jazz keyboardist taking her sound on a voyage into the Atomic age.

LIL YACHTY

LET’S START HERE.

JAKUB ZYTECKI

Our far-out trip to far-flung prog

PROG IN BRIEF

Bill Bruford (right) is the subject of the

DVNE

Edinburgh’s sci-fi-inspired quintet are rocketing up the UK prog metal ranks

US, THEM &YOU

The prog top 30 albums

WIN! FISH DELUXE BUNDLE!

As Fish prepares to close the final chapter

Now our turn…

The Editor Jerry Ewing PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING The

EX-EASTER ISLAND HEAD

Liverpool-based ensemble turn guitar-based music upside down. Literally.

WE ARE SPACE HORSES

Psych-inspired US power trio take a darker look at life.

SIMONE SIMONS

Epica’s vocalist on working with Arjen Lucassen on her solo debut and exploring the symbolism of the colour red.

THE PROG INTERVIEW

MIKE HOLMES

The Magical Box

DAVID GILMOUR

Echoes Old Tunes

IAN ANDERSON 8314 Boxed MADFISH Thick as

IMAGES & WORDS

WHO’S THE BOY WITH THE LOVELY HAIR? Jakko

MARTIN BARRE

VENUE SELLERSVILLE THEATER, SELLERSVILLE, PA, USA DATE

PROG FOR PEART

VENUE THE NORTHCOURT, ABINGDON DATE 12/07/202413/07/2024 Heroes emerge

DARKHER

VENUE THE BLACK HEART, LONDON DATE 27/07/2024 SUPPORT

CURVED AIR

VENUE 100 CLUB, LONDON DATE 15/08/2024 An iconic

KING’S X

VENUE SELLERSVILLE THEATER, SELLERSVILLE, PA, USA DATE 26/07/2024

BENT KNEE

VENUE REGGIE’S ROCK CLUB, CHICAGO, IL, USA

FAIRPORT’S CROPREDY CONVENTION

VENUE CROPREDY, OXFORDSHIRE DATE 08/08/2024-10/08/2024 Miserable? Low?

BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL

VENUE CATTON PARK, DERBY DATE 08/08/2024-11/08/2024 Once the

EPPYFEST 11

VENUE SMOKEY JOE’S DINER, CHELTENHAM DATE 27/07/2024-28/07/2024 One

RADAR FESTIVAL

VENUE O2 VICTORIA WAREHOUSE, MANCHESTER DATE 26/07/2024-28/07/2024 Now

GRAHAM GOULDMAN

VENUE PIZZA EXPRESS, LONDON DATE 03/07/2024 As

MY PROG

COLIN EDWIN

True Messenger

Hot on the heels of a series of successful live shows, Jon Anderson has released his 16th solo album, True. Along with The Band Geeks, the former Yes frontman has created a work that celebrates the spirit of his best-known band, but also fits perfectly with his own solo catalogue. Prog catches up with the singer to find out more, and to discover which of his long-awaited side-projects is finally tipped for release in 2025.

Prog, Pop and Progress

By stripping back their instrumentation, Norway’s art-rock sensations Leprous have found a different beast lurking below. Heavier and catchier than ever, they hope it can help them reach new frontiers. Prog catches up with vocalist Einar Solberg and guitarist Tor Oddmund Suhrke to uncover the story behind their new album, Melodies Of Atonement.

Still Life

“I like to mix things that don’t belong together and see what happens,” says Eivør Pálsdóttir. The singer-songwriter talks to Prog about channelling the folk traditions of her Faroese home, the power of solitude, and the inspiring magic of the natural world into her transformative new album ENN

PYRAMANIA

Egypt’s pyramids have long captivated our imagination, with some even believing the magnificent structures harness magical or healing powers. In 1978, masters of the concept album The Alan Parsons Project explored themes of pyramid power and ancient magic on their third studio album, Pyramid. Prog and Parsons step back in time to uncover the story behind the group’s Grammynominated and recently reissued record.

Goodbye Blue Sky

When Pure Reason Revolution made an unexpected but very welcome return with 2020’s Eupnea, all eyes were on them to see what they’d do next. However, internal changes, personal grief and a case of writer’s block made the future seem less certain. New album Coming Up To Consciousness allays those fears with a selection of powerful new material and a modified line-up. Frontman Jon Courtney chats to Prog about finding inspiration during dark times, working with Guy Pratt and his renewed vigour for the band he founded at university.

A Family Affair

Norwegian chamber proggers Meer are back with their hotlyanticipated third album, Wheels Within Wheels. Prog catches up with co-vocalist Johanne Kippersund Nesdal and guitarist Eivind Strømstad to discuss the writing process, running their own festival and the challenges of being part of an octet.

COME BACK STRONGER

Tears For Fears, an A-grade solo from Steve Rothery and, erm, whalesong have all made their mark on the current release from Dave Foster Band. The guitarist and vocalist Dinet Poortman discuss their more relaxed approach to Maybe They’ll Come Back For Us, and Foster opens up about his recent departure from Big Big Train.

Spellbinding

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jo Beth Young is back with a third album, which she describes as art-pop or experimental folk. Prog catches up with Young to learn more about the inspiration and process behind the thought-provoking Broken Spells.

Life, Death And The Decemberists

Death, Billy Joel and angelic visitations are just three of the ingredients that shaped The Decemberists’ latest album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. Vocalist Colin Meloy talks to Prog about creativity as a form of hallucination, sneaking progressive music into the record collections of unsuspecting listeners, and why you have to earn the long songs.

UNFADING MEMORIES

Experimental Norwegian jazz-rock trio Elephant9 return with eight new tracks that make up the exploratory Mythical River. The band’s co-founders, bassist Nikolai Hængsle and keyboard player Ståle Storløkken, reveal the appeal of long coffee breaks, collabs with Led Zep bassist John Paul Jones, and why three really is the magic number.

The Bottom Line

The experimental Aussies have turned heads with their dual bass player set-up, but chief songwriter Matt Fack says The Omnific are no mere gimmick. Having honed their craft to its sharpest point with second album The Law Of Augmenting Returns, he sits down with Prog to discuss their desire to redefine what bass guitars can do.